“Roden Crater,”

Land Art, also known as Earth Art is art that is made within or atop or involving a landscape. In addition, it also includes art that is made from materials drawn from the landscape. 

James Turell’s, “Roden Crater,” is an extinct volcanic crater in Arizona. Turell draws inspiration from places that have a powerful quality- the crater, he describes, has “that” quality. The piece was made possible with a grant from the Guggenheim. He believes in forming the experience and ensuring the experience occurs. Feeling and understanding is garnered to intersect so that the intellectual understanding is met with the reality of experiencing. He is working with the nature of perception and suggests that artists are working to take away that prejudice. 

Marking with the senses that have to do with the sky,  it is important for others to discover these things themselves [in the crater]. Turell is working to impart that for others with the material: light.